St. Paul daily globe., 1887-06-07
over. Higher.
JOHN SHERMAN.

JOHN SHERMAN Is, by all odds. the
most interesting figure in American
politics to-day. Heis in no sense a colos-
sal figure, nor will he ever be. And on
the other hand he is long ways from
being pigmy. Still it is not his size as
statesman or politician which attracts
attention to him at this time. The pecu-
liarity of his methods in attempting to
corral the presidential nomination is
what makes him notwithstanding at this
time. This is not Mr.. SHERMAN'S first
attempt at capturing the nomination.
He tried it once before, but his signal
failure probably suggested the necessity
for adopting tactics on this occasion en-
tirely different from what he en-
ployed the other time. When Mr..
SHERMAN was presidential candidate
before he was secretary OF the treas
ury. He had the encouragement of
his chief and the whole patronage of the
government was practically at his dis
pOsal to aid him in furthering his ambi-
ton. He went at it i'll the business
like way which suited the SHERMAN
temperament. He looked upon the
nomination as a thing of commercial
value. and proceeded to obtain it Just as
an ordinary business man would pro-
ceed to negotiate for the purchase of
piece of property. His canvass was
cool, calculating business transaction.
But it was ground into powder between
the stOicism of GRANTS adherents and
the enthusiasm of BLAINE'S followers.
SHERMAN'S boom was so thoroughly
pulveriZed that there were not pieces
enough left of it to make a nucleus for
compromise when the break came.
The power of gold and federal patron
age failed to bring him sight of prize
which fell, without an apparent effort to
obtain it, in the lap of his lieutenant.
The result of that fight was a revelation
to JOHN SHERMAN. For the first time
in his long public life he learned that he
knew absolutely nothing about practi-
cal politics. Since that time he has
been taking lessons in political train
ing school. He has placed himself
under the instruction of capable mas
ters and now thinks he is ready for
graduation. He is so confident of his
proficiency in the science of politics he
has made bold and final strike for the
nomination. If he loses this time he
goes down forever, and no one is more
thoroughly conscious of this fact than
himself. 1t is because of the earnest
ness he exhibits and the novel methods
he employs that he is such an interest
ing figure in politics at this time Not
withstanding the severe political school,
ing that he has had and the systematic
training he has undergone, there are so
many evidences of amateurishness in
his performances that people will laugh
at him. When he went down South and
tried the taffy treatment he was laughed
at. Convinced at length that he
had made himself ridiculous he
attempted to remedy the mis-
take BY coming up to Springfield
and waving the bloody shirt. Now he
Is being laughed at again and he is i'm a
dilemma what TO do next. All the
while he is circiing around the country
cultlyating his boom he finds it neces-
sary every now and then to stop Off and
take run down into Ohio to suppress
the rebellion against his candidacy
which bobs up every time his foot is re-
moved from the soil of the Buckeye
state. lie realizes that it takes one
mans labor TO keep Ohio solid. And
thus, as the days go by, JOHN SHERMAN
sweats and tolls, plans and schemes,
writes letters one day that he wishes
the next day he had left unwritten.
makes speeches one month that he has
to reply to the next, is perplexed be-
cause of his own lack of political craft,
Is distrustful of his own following and
altogether is about the unhappiest man
on the American continent. In the
meantime JAMES g. BLAINE is busy
packing his trunk for a European trip
and goes whistling about the house in
an Indifferent sort of way that must be
very aggravating to man in JOHN
SHERNAN'S 5 frame of mind.